Community Action on Dementia Mayo (CADM ) is issuing Dementia travel passes that allow the primary carer living with a person with dementia, to take their loved one for a short spin.
As long as neither passenger gets out of the vehicle or has any direct contact with any other person they will not be breaking the Covid-19 social distancing and/or cocooning restrictions currently in place, according to the organisation.
CADM said this week that it has been recognised that certain people with disabilities have additional needs to access outdoor breaks and that the Department of Health recently stated 'people can leave their home for vital family reasons such as providing care to children, elderly or vulnerable people'; they believe that going for a drive would reasonably be included here as well. If required, local service providers can provide a letter to parents/carers confirming that the person is a service user with special needs and would benefit from additional outdoor breaks for health reasons.
Since the social distancing and cocooning measures have been introduced, CADM say they have dealt with a significant increase in the number of carers reporting to struggle with compliance.
Operations Manager, Frances Maloney, said: "Routine is an important part of living well with dementia so you can imagine how difficult it is for carers who have to try and introduce a new and very rigid routine for their loved one. Given the nature of the illness, the person may lack the insight as to why they are being asked to stay at home or why family and friends are no longer calling in."
Before the Covid-19 restrictions were introduced over four weeks ago, people living with dementia often had daily home help, were free to attend day care services, as well as participate in dementia specific dance and singing groups in their community. Carers could avail of Ballindine’s overnight respite centre. These services are no longer available except for some home help and limited sitter services in the person’s home.
By introducing the dementia travel pass, carers will be able to counteract some of the agitation and restlessness often experienced by people living with dementia, particularly in the early evening (known as “sundowning” ).
Anyone interested in obtaining a dementia travel pass can contact Frances Maloney, Operations Manager, CADM on (086 ) 8366312, who stated: "Once there is a confirmed, written diagnosis of dementia then we can issue a travel pass to the primary carer who is living with their loved one".
